We collectively need to step up conservation efforts for this particular species of penguin.

— Joe Torszok

The coverage, the zoo’s chair says, has helped raise awareness about the possible extinction of the African penguin species.

“Now the whole world is aware how [the African penguins’] population is dropping, and we collectively need to step up conservation efforts for this particular species of penguin,” Torszok said.

Torszok added that it’s no wonder the story is getting so much attention.

“At the most basic level, it is an incredibly cute story about some engaging and downright adorable animals,” he said, adding that he is not sure the story would have received the same reaction if it involved sloths instead of penguins.

But it’s also because there are human angles to the story, Torzsok said.

“Are they or aren’t they gay even though they haven’t actually tried to mate? Maybe it is just a pair of good buddies hanging out together?

“Are they in what we as humans know as love? Is the ‘love’ like brotherly love, or something else?” he asked, citing just a few of the questions that have the world debating.

For some, the story is about homophobia and an attempt to “convert” gays to heterosexuals. In Afghanistan, a woman named Amelia Kaitlyn created an online petition protesting the separation of Buddy and Pedro and has so far garnered about 1,000 signatures.

If in the long run Buddy and Pedro really don’t seem to be interested in females, that’s OK.

— Joe Torszok

“Separating Buddy and Pedro, who have bonded with each other in a loving relationship, is bad enough,” the petition reads. “…But to then force them to mate with females who they are not attracted to is absurd.”

Torszok said the penguins’ separation is only temporary.

“They are an endangered species with a dramatically declining population, but if in the long run Buddy and Pedro really don’t seem to be interested in females, that’s OK also,” he said.